Ironing press



Nov. 1, 1938. G. w. WARDWELL, JR 2,135,255

IRONING PRESS Original Filed Oct. 30, 1954 Sheets-Sheet 1 /w-f .1i/06 f a ff MMM/M v u 2.2 full l A @W7 m 92 His Attovneg.

Nov. 1, 1938. G. w. WARDWELL, JR 2,135,266

n IRONING PRESS .l Original Filed 00h50., 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITD/evd) O1-J Geolge W Wuwdwell, J1".

His Attovneg.

Patented Nov. l, 1938 UNITED STATES moNxNG PBEss 'l Gwrge w. wardweu, n., Nichols, oonn.,ass1n or to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 30, 1934, Serial No. 750,820 I Renewed June 1, 1938 32 Claims. (Cl. 38-25) y.

My vinvention relates to ironing presses of the type in which ironing is effected by the pressure between a buck and a heated shoe.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement and control in an ironing press of this type, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to theV accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

l In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation partly in section of. an ironing press embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shoe and carriage; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view partly broken away of the buck; Fig. 4 l5 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 oi' Fig. 2; Fig. 5a is an enlarged portion of Fig. 5; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a plan view' of the bearing housing at the upper end of the piston which. moves the buck into pressing engagement with the shoe; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the spacer which prevents rearward tilting of the buck. durl ing pressing; Fig. l0 is a sectional view partly broken away taken on line I0-I of Fig. 6; Fig". il is a diagrammatic view of the control for the ironing press; and Fig. i?? is a bottom plan View ci the center or the bacia casting. 3G Referring to the drawings, the ironing machine is shown carried on a table having e. table top i and supporting legs il. The tabletop is re intorced by a channel d secured to the under side. An apron d, secured to the rear edge et the table top, prevents the surplus of the ma terial being ironed from falling over the rear edge of, the table. At the front edge of the table top is a leaf d which is rotatably carried on the front edge of the table top by apin 6. A brace 'I 4o supports the leaf in the position shown in Fig. l. The brace projects through a slot in the front edge of the table top and is provided with a notch 8 which engages the lower side of the slot. When the ironing machine is not in use, the free end of the brace l is lifted so that it can slide through the slot in the table top, and the leaf is swung downwardly about the. pin 6. Similar leaves may be provided at either end of. the table.

The table top ispprovided with a central open- 'ing through which the lower end of a cylinder 9 projects. The cylinder is supported on the table top by a flange I0 integral with the cylinder and suitably secured to the table top. The axis'of the cylinder-is inclined downward and rearward from the vertical. The cylinder 9 forms the outer cas- A ing and stationary member of a power-operated device for moving the buck and shoe into pressing engagement. A piston Il which' forms the movable member of the ypower-operated device ,f

' is slidably carried within the cylinder 9, as shown as oil, and the piston is moved upward inrlthe cylinder bypressure between the lower end of the cylinder and the piston. This pressure is created by an lmpeller 22 driven by an electric motor carried in the upper end of the motor casing I2. fihe stationary member I6 of the electric motor is pressed into the upper end of the motor casing. The rotating member Il of the electric motor is provided with a shaft I8 which is rotatably carried in a bearing I9 in the bearing housing I3 and in c. bearing 20 in a bearing housing 2|. The bearing housing 2i is integral with the motor casing and provides a partition which prevents the leakage of oil from the cylinder into the space around the motor. At the lower end of the motor shaft isisecured the impeller 22. The impeller and the rotating'member of the motor are supported by a spring-pressed ball 23 arranged in a recess d4 in a piston head 25. 'I'he piston head is secured to the lower endof the piston Il by 35 studs 26. The piston head is spaced from the lower end of the piston and provides a chamber in lwhich the impeller 2a rotates.y A piston ring 25* lies in a groove between piston head 25 and piston i I. Rotation oi' the impeller by the motor causes oil to be drawn from the upper side of piston il through inlet opening 21 in the `piston and to be forced outward through the space between the piston head 25 and the lower side ofY the piston. From here the oil flows `through 45 openings 28 in the pistonv head and creates a pressure between the cylinder and the lower side of the piston head which moves the piston upward in the cyl-inder.l The oil which iiows through the inlet opening 21 enters from the 50 cylinder through openings 29 in the lower ,end

of the motor casing and iiows between a baille plate 30 and the upper side of the piston II to the inlet opening.. Vanes 3| are provided on the upper side of the piston which guide the oil-to the 55 inlet opening 21 and prevent swirling of the oil at the inlet opening. The baille plate 30 rests on the upper side of the vanes 3I and is held in place by peaning projections 32 on the upper side of the piston over the edge of the baffle plate. The rotation of. the impeller tends to create a pressure between the under side of the impeller and the upper side of the piston head which tends to lift the impeller away from the upper side of the piston head. This thrust is resisted by a thrust pin 33 which is adjustably threaded into the upper end of the bearing housing I3 and which bears a dise 33a of bearing material on the upper end of the shaft I8 oi the electric motor. The disc 33a provides a surface which will not wear sufficiently during the normal liie of the ironer to destroy the end thrust adjustment. Holes 34 are provided in the impeller which tend to relieve the pressure on the under side of the impeller.

In the operation of the power-operated device, supplying current to the electric motor starts the rotation of the impeller, thereby causing oil to be pumped from the upper to the lower side of the piston and building up a pressure between the cylinder and the lower side of the piston which causes the piston to be raised in the cylinder. Due to the time necessary for accelerating the electric motor, there is some time lag in the building up of pressure by the'impeller. This time lag causes the movement of the piston in the cylinder to be started smoothly. The upward movement of the piston continues until the resistance offered to the upward movement of the piston balances the pressure created by the impeller between the cylinder and piston. When this condition is reached, there is no further upward travel of the piston, and the piston remains in this position as long as the electric motor is energized. When the motor is deenergized, the impeller stops rotating and oil flows from the space between the lower end of the piston and the cylinder through openings 28 and inlet opening 21 to the upper side of the piston, and the piston returns to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 under the action of gravity. The piston and cylinder cooperate to cushion the return movement. An opening 35 is provided in the flange I5 on the motor casing through which air may flow to the upper Surface of the oil in the cylinder. 'I'his prevents the creation oi a suction by the reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder.

The buck is mounted on the upper side of the bearing housing I3 and is reciprocated by the piston. The buck comprises a hollow casting 36 which is provided with a circular depending iiange31 which fits over the upper end of the cylinder 9. IThe buck casting is also provided with a pair of depending longitudinal ribs 38 which rest on shoulders 39 on the upper side of the bearing housing I3. These ribs and shoulders provide a tiltable support for the buck. The ribs 38 support the buck so that the upper surface of the buck is inclined upwardly from the front and so that the axis of the cylinder 9 inclines downwardly and rearwardly from the center line of the buck. It is easier for the operator to arrange clothes on the inclined surface of the buck. The buck is held in place on the upper side of the bearing housing by studs 4i which pass through openings 42 in the bearing housing and are threaded into the lower side of the buck casting 3S. Coil springs 4-arranged between the heads of studs 4I and the lower side of the bearing housing bias the buck casting downward toward the bearing housing I3 so that the ribs 38 on the buck casting are resiliently held in engagement with the shoulders 39 on the bearing housing. The studs 4I are arranged on the longitudinal axis of the buck on either side of the center so that the buck is free to tilt in all directions in order to maintain an even pressure over the surface of the buck during pressing. In order to restrain rearward tilting of the buck, for reasons which will appear hereinafter, a spacer 43 is placed across ribs 44 on the rear upper side of the bearing housing I3. The spacer is held in place by projections 45 which engage notches 4S in the bearing housing. 'Ihe spacer engages a pair of transverse ribs 46B, which extend downwardly from the buck casting and thereby restrains rearward tilting of the buck. The spacer 43 does not restrain rearward tilting of the buck suniciently to destroy the flexibility of the buck mounting. The forward tilting of the buck is limited by the engagement of the front end of the ribs 46B with the upper edge of the bearing housing I3. The buck mounting is such that there is less resistance to forward than to rearward tilting of the buck. The buck casting 36 is hollow and is provided with spaced ribs 41 (Fig. 3) which extend upwardly from the upper surface of the casing and have their upper edges in line with a shoulder 48 provided along the inner edge of the casting. Across the ribs 41 and the shoulder 48 is placed a wire mesh screen 49. The wire mesh screen supports pads 50 of textile material which are held in place on the screen by a pad cover 5I. The pad cover 5I is held in place by cords 52 which are laced across the under surface of the buck casting.

During ironing, the moisture in the clothing is transformed into steam which passes through the pads 50 and the wire mesh screen 45 into the interior of the buck casting. When first starting to iron, the bottom walls of the buck casting are cold and the steam which passes through the padding is immediately condensed on these walls. The condensed steam is led fromv the buck through an opening 53 in the lower wall of the buck casting and through a drain tube 54 secured in place in this opening. From the drain tube 54 the condensed moisture ilows through an opening 55 in a bracket 56 secured to the side of the cylinder 9 and through a drain tube 51 secured in opening 55 to a drain trap 58. The drain trap 58 is preferably avglass jar so that the amount of moisture contained therein will be visible from the outside. Ijhe drain trap is removably held in place on the bracket 56 by a clip 59. A Vent 6D is provided in the bracket above the drain trap. The lower end of drain tube 51 extends near the bottom of the drain trap 58 so that by the time the bottom walls of the buck casting have become heated by the steam so that all the steam is not condensed therein, the lower end of the drain tube 51 is submerged. Since steam from the buck must now pass through the relatively low temperature condensate in the drain trap, escape of steam from the buck is prevented. The space between the drain tube 54 and the bracket 56 is sealed by a vresilient washer BI held in place in the upper end of the bracket by a retaining Washer 62. The washer 6I permits tilting movement of the buck and also permits sliding movement of the buck relative to the cylinder without destroying the seal.

der. The carriage is keyed to a pin 65 which isrotatably mounted in the ears il. The pin i is centered on the axis oi the cylinder. With. this` arrangement, the thrust on the carriage during a the ironing is not transferred to the table top.

Also, since the pin 65 is located on the axis of the cylinder, there is no tendency for the cylinder to tilt on the table top during pressing. With this construction it is not necessary to make the table top strong enough to withstand the pressing forces.

The carriage comprises a U-shaped channel 88 having a reinforcing web 81 secured between the flanges of the channel. In order to limit the rearward pivotal movement of the carriage, a toggle comprising links 68 and 69 is provided. The toggle links are pivotally connected together by pin 10. Link B9 is pivotally connected to a bracket1l mounted on lthe reinforcing web 61 of the carriage. Link 88 is pivotally connected to a bracket 12 secured to the rear side of the cylinder. A coil spring 13, arranged between the end of the carriage and a washer 1l on the pin 1n, urges the adjacent ends of the links 68 and 68 toward the lower end of the carriage. When the `carriage is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the force of the spring 13 tends to pivot the carriage rearward and partially overcomes the eilect of gravity which holds the carriage in this position. When the carriage is moved to the position shownv inv dotted lines in Fig. 1, the force of the spring 13 prevents the straightening of the toggle and also cushions the rearward pivotal movementof the carriage.

To further cushion the pivotal movement of the carriage, a coil spring 15 is provided around the pin 65. One end of the spring 15 nts within an opening 18 in one of the ears 84, and the other end of the spring is secured to the upper side of reenforcing web S1 by a clamp 11. The spring 15 is arranged so that there is noterision on the spring when the center ci gravity of the carriage is verticaily above the pin 65. Movement oi.' the carriage on either side of this position causes the spring "it to be tensioned. The tensioning of the spring 15 stili further assists in balancing the force of gravity on the carriage and assists in obtaining easy movement of the carriage.

Forward movement of the carriage is limited by an adjustable stop 18 which is secured to the bracket 'i2 and which is engaged by a projection 19 on the bracket lli. The projection 19 also .engages the plunger of a control switch 8l which is also secured to bracket 12.A

A shoe 82 which is made oi aluminum or other suitable metal, is rigidly secured to the upper arm 83 of the carriage. The shoe is placed so that when the carriage is moved to the full line position ofFig. 1, the shoe is in register with the buck and in spaced relation thereto. Since the pivot point of the carriage is below and to the rear of the center line of the buck, that is, a line perpendicular to the top face of the buck passing through the center of the buck, the shoe tends to swing downwardly toward the buck as the carriage is pivoted forward and less clearance is required between the buck and shoe. The location of the pivot point of the carriage provides a more compact construction. The shoe is heated by a heating element 84 which is heldin a groove in the upper surface of the Aslice by clamps 85 and by a heating element 86 similarly secured in place on the shoe. The heating elenent 8l may be controlled by suitable thermostats (not shown) `so as to maintain the shoe at proper temperature. The heating element 88, which is preferably chosen to. take the same power as the electric motor oi the power operated device, is controlled byswitch 8|. The switch 8| maintains the heating element 88 in an energized condition when the carriage is moved to a position in which the buck and shoe are out of register. vWhen the buck and shoe are moved into register,vthe switch 8l deenergizes the heating element 86 and closes the circuit to the electric motor. By this arrangement, the electric motor and the heating element ,88 are never simultaneously energized and for this reason the power demand of the ironing press is decreased. This provides practically constant power input to the ironing machine and eliminates peak loads while the motor is running. 'Ihis is important since the power demand of the ironing press should not exceed the capacity of the usual outlet found in homes. yA cover 82* is provided to enclose the upper surface of the shoe. Guards 82b are provided on the frontedge of the shoe.

The shoe is moved into and out of register with the buck by a handle connected to the upper surface'of the shoe between the shoe and cover 82.. The handle comprises cross bars 81 and 81* which are connected between two bars 88 and 89.

The bar 89'is pivotally connected to the shoe by a stud 90, vand a stud 9| extending through an opening 92 in bar 89 allows a limited pivotal movement of the bar 89 around stud 90. Studs 93 extending through enlarged openings 94 in bar 88 hold the bar 88 in place on the upper surface 'of the shoe and also permit pivotal movement of the handle about the stud 80.. This arrangement provides a lost motion connection beu' end of the bar 88 engages a hntton t9 ci insu lating material on the switch and moves the conn tact 96 out of engagement with contact d5. Since the circuit to the eieotric motor is closed through these contacts, the opening oi" the contacts' de= venergises the motor and causes the release ci pressure between the buck and the shoe. As long as the handle is maintained in this position. the motor cannot be energized. When the handle is released, the spring 91 may he strong enough to close the contacts 95 and 9&5 and return the handle to the position shown in Fig. 2. This is not necessary since the handle will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by a lforce on the handle'in the direction to move the shoe into register with the buck. This provides a convenient control for the ironing machine since the movement of the handle necessary to control the pressure between the buck and the shoe is the same as that required to move the shoe into and out of register with the buck. `Il? the operator' wishes for any reason to release the pressure, it is yonly necessary to push lthe handle in the direction to move the shoe out of register with the buck.

about the bar S8.

groove in the upper surface or" the shoe below the cover. When not in use, the puff iron is carried within the edges of the shoe in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the pun iron is in use, the working surface oi the iron is moved by a handle lill to a position projecting beyond the edge of the shoe. The portion |02 of the puff iron which is to the rear oi the working surface |00 remains within the edges of the shoe and conducts heat from the shoe to the working surface |00 of the pui iron. A spring |03 supported from the shoe by a bracket |04 engages raised portions |05 on the puff iron and holds the puff iron in rm contact with the upper surface of the shoe when the shoe is in the extended and the retracted positions. Between these positions, the spring |83 is out of contact with the upper surface of the puff iron so that the puff iron may be freely moved.

In the use of the puif iron, the shoe is moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. l, and the puff iron is moved to the extended position by pulling on the handle |0I. After the puff iron is moved to the extended position, the handle ll may be swung to one side to uncover the working surface of the puil iron# As explained above, moving the shoe to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 closes the circuit to the electric motor through switches 8| and 94 so that the buck is immediately raised into pressing engagement with the shoe. Since the pui iron may be used for a considerable time, it is undesirable that the buck and shoe be maintained in pressing engagement during this time. An arrangement is, therefore, provided which will open the circuit to the motor and prevent energizing of the motor when the puff iron is moved to the extended position. This arrangement comprises a rod |06, one end of which is pivotally connected to the bar 88 of the handle for moving the carriage. The other end of the rod |06 slidably extends through a hole in a bracket |01 secured to the upper surface of the puff iron. When the puff iron is moved, rod |06 is pivoted As the puff iron nears the extended position, the rod engages a boss |08 on the upper surface of the shoe and moves the tongue 88 of the bar 88 against the button 99 and thereby moves Contact 96 out of engagement with contact 65. This opens the circuit to the motor and prevents pressing engagementY of the buck and the shoe while the puff iron is in the extended position. During the movement of the puff iron, the rod i106 slides through the bracket A diagrammatic view of the control for the ironing press is shown in Fig. 11. In this diagram the current is :ted from a suitable source of electricity from conductors |09 and H0 through line switch lli to contacts H2 and H3. The circuit to heating element 84 on the shoe extends from contact H3 through conductor H4 and conductor ||5 to heating element 84 and from heating element 84 through conductor H6 and conductor |41 to contact i i2. The circuit to heating element 84 is maintained as long as the line switch l l is closed.

When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. ll, the circuit to the motor is closed and the buclr is moved into pressing engagement with the shoe. rihe circuit to the motor extends from one side of the line through contact H3, conductor lid, conductor H8, contact 95 and contact 86 or switch 34, conductor H9, to one terminal ofthe motor. From the otherterminal of the motor, the circuit extends through conductor |20, contact |2|, switch blade |22 and contact |23 of switch 8|, conductor |24, and conductor H1 to the other side of the line. The circuit to the motor is energized when the carriage is moved to the position in which the shoe and buck are in register and when contacts 95 and 96 are in the closed position. When the shoe is in register with the buck, projection 19 on bracket 1| secured to the carriage engages plunger 80 of the switch 8| and moves the switch blade |22 of the switch 80 into engagement with contacts |2| and |23. Contacts 95 and 96 are maintained in the closed position by spring 91 when a force is exerted on the handle 81 in the direction to move the shoe into register with the buck. It is, therefore, apparent that as soon as the shoe is moved into register with the buck, the electric motor is energized and starts to move the buck into pressing engagement with the shoe. To release the pressure between the buck and the shoe, it is necessary to open contacts 95 and 96 by exerting a force on the handle 81 in the direction to move the shoe out of register with the buck. This may be accomplished by pushing on the handle 81 or by moving the puff iron to the extended position.

When the shoe is out of register with the buck, the projection 19 is moved away from the plunger 80 of the switch 8|, and spring |25 forces the switch blade |22 into engagement with contacts |26 and |21, thus completing a circuit through heating `element 86. This circuit may be traced from one side of the line through contact H3, conductor H4 conductor H5, heating element 86, conductor |28, contact |26, switch blade |22, contact |21, conductor |24, and conductor H1, to Contact H2 and the other side of the line. The circuit to heating element 86 is closed whenever the buck and shoe are out of register.

In the use of the ironing machine, assume that the parts are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this position, the shoe is out of register with the buck, and the material to be ironed may be arranged over the upper surface thereof. To effect the ironing of the material arranged on the buck, the shoe is moved into register with the buck by pulling on handle 81. The force exerted on the handle causes the handle to pivot about stud 90 thereby moving the tongue98 of the bar 88 away from the button 99' on switch 94 and permitting contacts 95 and 96 to be moved into engagement by spring 91. Contacts 95 and v96 remain in this position until a rearward force is exerted on the handle. As soon as the shoe reaches a position in register with the buck, projection 19 on bracket 1| attached to the carriage engages plunger 80 of the switch 8| and moves switch blade |22 into en gagement with contacts |23 and |2|, completing the circuit to the electric motor. Energizing of the electric motor causes rotation of the impeller 22 attached to the lower end of the motor shaft I8. The rotation of the impeller 22 draws oil through the inlet opening 21 in the upper side of the piston H and forces the oil through openings 28 in the piston head 25 to the lower side of the piston, thereby building up pressure between the piston and the lower end of the cylinder 9 and causing the piston to be moved upward. Due to the time required by accelerating the motor, the building up of pressure between the lower end of the cylinder and the piston is gradual, and the upward movement of the piston is started without shock. The up- Ward'movement of the piston continues until the ,top and there is no tendency for the cylinder to tilt.. The table top is therefore subjected to no additional strain during pressing and need only be strong enough to support the weight of the cylinder and carriage. During pressing, the ribs 38 on the buck rock-on shoulders 39 on bearing .housing I3 and allow the buck to align its surface with the shoe to maintain an even pressure*V over the surface of the buck.

I Since the vcenter line of the buck passes through a pointin front of-the pivot point of the carriage, the ironing force is not applied perpendicularly to the surface of the shoe. 'I'he ironing force on the shoe comprises a component.

perpendicular to the surface of the shoe anda component acting along the surface of the shoe in the direction to pivot the carriage forward. 'I'he component of force along the surfaceof the shoe is equal to the product of the perpendicular component of force by the coeflcient `of friction between the surface of the 'shoe and the material on the upper surface of the buck. During normal operation of the ironing machine, the torque on the carriage about ypin 65 due to the component of the ironing force acting along the surface of the shoe is equaljto or greater than thel torque on the carriage due tothe component of the ironing force perpendicular to the surface of the shoe. The carriage is therefore normally held against stop i8 and there is no slippage between the shoe and the upper surface Mof the buck. When ironing very dry material at vhigh temperatures of the shoe, the padding onthe face of thebuck orthe material placed on the face of the buck sometimes become sufliciently smooth and slippery so that there is no longer sufficient friction to prevent slippage between the buck and the shoe. Under these circumstances the torque due to the force perpendicular to the surface of the shoe tends -vto pivot the carriage rearward. This tendency to rearward movement of the carriage is prevented by spacer 43 which restrains rearward tilting of the buck.

Unless the buck can tilt rearward, the carriagecannot move rearward during pressing, and slippage between the buck and shoe is accordingly prevented. This arrangement makes it possible to pivot the carriage below and to the rear of the center line of the buck without making any provision for locking the carriage in the position in which the buck and shoe are in register. Forward movement of the carriage during pressing is prevented by stop 'I8 so that there is no slipping between the buck and shoe during pressing.

To release the pressure between the buck and the shoe', a rearward pressure is exerted on the handle 81 causing the handle topivotvabout the stud 90 and thereby causing tongue 98 to press against button 99 and move contact 96 out of engagement with contact 95. Due tol the lost motion connection of the handle to the shoe which is provided by the clearance between studs upper edge of the cylinder 9, as shown in Fig. 6.'

When the shoe is moved out of register with the buck, the projection 19 on the bracket 1| is moved away from plunger 80 of switch 8|, and spring |25 moves switch blade |22 out of engagement with contacts 2| and |23 and into engagement with contacts |26 and |21. Moving the switch blade |22 out of engagement with contacts v|2| and |23 opens the circuit to themotor. The

Amovement of switch blade |22 into engagement with. contacts. |26 and |21 closes the"circuit through heating element 86. With this arrangement, the electric motor vand heating element 86 Y can never be simultaneously energized, and the power demand of the press is'accordingly decreased. Wh'ile the buck and shoe are out of register, heating'element 86 provides additional power which is available to maintain the shoe at the desired temperature.

No claim is made in this application to the buck construction, this'being claimed in my application,

Serial No. 744,793, filed Sept. 20, 1934. The combination of an inclined b'uck with a pivotal carriage for moving the shoe toward and away from the buck is being claimed more broadly in my' .x 1. An ironingpress comprising a buck, a shoe, an electric heating element for heating the press,

electricallyoperated means for power operation of the press, and means decreasing the power taken by said electric heating element while said electrically operated means is energized for decreasing the power demand of the press. N 2. An ironing press comprising a buck, a. shoe,

an electric heating element for heating the press, electrically operated means adapted when energizedfto cause pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe and when deenergized to release f the pressure between said buck and said shoe, and means decreasing the power taken by said electric 5 heatingelement while said electrically 'operated y means is energized for decreasing the power demand of the press.

3. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, electrically operated means for power operation of the press, a plurality of electric heating elements for heating the press, and means deenergizing one of said heating elements while said electrically operated means is lenergized for. decreasing the power demand of the press.

4. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, a carriage for said shoe, a plurality of electric heating elements for heating the press, electrically operated-means for power operation of the press, and a switch operated by said carriage for alternatively energizing said electrically operated means and one of saidheating elements.

5. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe into and out of register, electrically operated means for relatively moving said buck and shoe into pressing engagement, an electric heating element for heating said press, and means dependent vupon said buck and shoe being in register for heating element when said buck and shoe are in register and for deenergizing said electrically operated means and increasing the power taken by said heating element when said buck and shoe are out of register.

'7. An ironing press adapted for use with,an electric outlet of limited capacity comprising a buck, a shoe, an electric heating elementsfor heating the press, electrically operated means for power operation of the press, and means decreasing the power taken by said electric heating element While said electrically operated means is energized for increasing the effective heating capacity of the heating element without exceeding the capacity of the outlet.

8. An ironing press comprising a. buck, a shoe, power operated means for effecting pressing engagement of the buck and the shoe, a handle for causing relative movement between said buck and said shoe whereby said buck and said shoe are moved into and out oi' register, means effective upon relative movement of the buck and the shoe by the handle to the in-register position without additional movement of the handle ior controlling said power operated means to effect pressing engagement of the buck and the shoe, and means controlled by pressure on said handle in the, direction to move said buck and said shoe out of register for controlling said power operated means to release the pressure between said buck and said shoe.

9. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, a handle for moving said shoe into and out oi register with said buck, electrically-operated means adapted when energized to cause pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe and when deenergized to release the pressure between said buck and said shoe, a switch controlled by said handle for controlling said electrically-operated means, means for moving said switch to the energized position in response to the force on the handle required to move the shoe into register with the buck, and means for moving said switch to the deenergized position in response to pressure on said handle in the direction to move said shoe out of register.

10. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, a handle for relatively moving said buck and said shoe into and out of register, power-operated means for causing pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe, means actuated by movement of said buck and said shoe into register for controlling said power-operated means -to, cause pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe, and means controlled by pressure on said` handle in the direction to move said shoe and said buck out of register for controlling said power-operat- 11. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe,l

a handle for relatively moving said buck and said shoe into and out of register, electrically-operated means adapted when energized to cause pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe and when deenergized to release the pressure between said buck and said shoe, means actuated by movement of said buck and said shoe into register for energizing said electrically-operated means, and a switch controlled by pressure on said handle in the direction to move said buck and shoe into and out of register for respectively energizing and deenergizing said electrically-operated means.

12. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, a handle having a lost motion connection with said shoe for relatively moving said shoe into register with and in spaced relation to said buck and for moving said shoe out of register with said buck, electrically-operated means adapted when energized to cause said buck to be raised into pressing engagement with said shoe and when deenergized to cause the buck to be lowered, means actuated by movement of said shoe into register with said buck for energizing said electricallyoperated means, and a switch controlled by the lost motion movement ofY said handle for controlling the energizing of said electrically-operated means.

13. An ironing press comprising a support, a tiltably mounted buck carried by the support, a carriage pivoted on the support below said buck and pivotally movable forward and rearward with respect to said buck, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable to a position above and in register with said buck, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe into pressing engagement, and means restraining rearward tilting of said buck for preventing rearward movement of said carriage during pressing.

14. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, meansv for moving said buck and said shoe into pressing engagement, a pui! iron carried by said press movable to an operative and an inoperative position, means dependent upon said pull iron being moved from the inoperative position for preventing pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe.

15. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, power-operated means for moving said buck and said shoe into` pressing engagement, a puff iron carried by said shoe having a working surface movable to a position projecting beyond said shoe, and means dependent upon the working surface of said pui! iron being moved beyond said shoe for controlling said power-operated means to prevent pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe.

16. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe, means for relatively moving said buck and shoe into and out of register, power-operated means for causing pressing engagement of said buck and shoe being in register for controlling said poweroperated means to cause pressing engagement of ysaid buck and said shoe, a pui! iron carried by ,said shoe, means dependent upon said buck and pui iron being moved from the inoperative position for controlling said power-operated means to prevent pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe.

17. An ironing press comprising a buck, a shoe,

Va handle for moving said buck and said shoe into and out of register, electrically-operated means for controlling the pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe, a switch controlled by pressure of said handle in the direction to move said -buck having its surface inclined upwardly lfrom the front, a shoe, means for moving said shoe to a position in register with said buck, and means for moving said buck into pressing .engagement with said shoe.

19. An ironing press comprising a table having an opening therein, a cylinder carried by the table in said opening, a pistonv in said cylinder, a buck on said piston, a carriage pivoted on said cylinder below said buck, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable'to a position in register with said bucle, and means including said'piston for moving said bnclr into pressing engagement with said shoe.

20. .an ironing press comprising a buck having its surface inclined upwardly from the front, a cylinder having its axis inclined downward and rearward of the center line of the buck, a piston in said cylinder, a .carriage pivoted on said cyl- Y inder below and to the rear of the centerline of the buck, a shoe carried by the carriage and movable to a position in register with said buck, and means including said piston for moving said buch into pressingv engagement with said shoe.

2l. An ironing press comprising a buck having its surface inclined upwardly from the front, a

cylinder having its axis inclined downward and rearward of the center line of the buck, a piston in said cylinder, said buck being tlltably mounted on said piston, a carriage pivoted on said cylinder below and to the rear oi the center line of the buclr, a shoe carried by said carriage movable to a position in register with said buck, means including said piston ier moving said buck, into pressing engagement with said shoe, and means restraining rearward tilting of said back for pretilting of the buck for preventing rearward movement of the carriage during pressing.

25. An ironing press comprising a table having an opening therein, a cylinder carried by the table in said opening, a piston in said cylinder, a buck on said piston, a carriage, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable to a position in register with said buck, means including said piston'forlmoving said buck into pressing engagement with said shoe, and means on said cylinder engaging said carriage for transmitting the pressing forces irom said cylinder to said carriage.

26. An ironing press comprising a pair of cooperating pressing members, means for monntcontrol the power operated means to cause pressventing rearward movement or said carriage dnrl,

ing pressing.

22. En an ironing press, a support, a buck earried by said support, av carriage pivoted on said support below said buck, said carriage having an arm extending above said buck, a shoe carried by said arm, a toggle including a pair of links connected to each other and respectively connected to said support and said carriage ior limiting the pivotal movement of said carriageyand a spring connected to said support for preventing straightening of said toggle and for cushioning `the pivotal movement of said carriage.

23. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage pivoted below and to the rear oi the center line oi the buck, a shoe carried by said carriage movable to a lposition in register with said buck, and means moving said buck into pressing engagement with said shoe along an axis passing through thel pivot point of the carriage.

24. An ironing press comprising a tiltably mounted buck, a carriage pivoted below and to the rear oi the center lineo! the buck. a shoe carried by said carriage movable to a position in register with said buck, means moving saidv ing engagement of said pressing members by the pressure on the handle required to move the pressing members into\register and being actuated to control the power operated means to release the pressure between the pressing members by pressure in the direction to move said pressing members out-of register.

27. In an ironing press, a hollow buck. having an upper wall provided with openings for the passage of steam, a pad on said upperwall, a conduit leading from said buck to drain the condensate from the interior of the buclr, and a receptacle lor receiving the condensate from said conduit, said receptacle being provided with a wallI closely adjacent the end or said conduit .whereby the liquid in the receptacle will serve as a seal and prevent the discharge oi steam from the conduit.

2d. in an ironing press, a hollow bucle havingr an upper wall provided with openings for the passage'oi steam, a pad on said opper wall, a conduit leading from said buck to drain the condensate lirons. the interior of the buck, and a trap arranged to be nlled with the condensate for pre-l i venting escape oi steam from said conduit.'

29. .an ironing press comprising a bucle having its surface inclined upwardly from the iront, supporting means for said buck, a carriage supported by said supporting means below and to the rear oi the center line or the buck so as to have pivotal movement with respect to said bucle, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable thereby to a .position above and in register with said buck, and means for moving said buch: into pressing 1 engagement with said shoe.'

3G. .an ironing press comprising a table having ported from the table top and extending through said opening, a carriage pivoted on said structure below said table top, said carriage having an arm movable to a position above said table top, a buck above said table top, a. shoe carried by said arm and movable to a position above said buck, and a pressure developing mechanism carried by said structure and arranged to develop pressure between said carriage and said buck whereby pressing engagement between saidlbuck and said shoe is eiected.

31. An ironing press comprising a buck, a carriage pivoted below and to the rear of the center line of the buck, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable to a position above and in register with said buck, and means for eiectng pressing engagement between said buck and said shoe by relative movement of said buck and said shoe along an axis inclined downward and rearward of the center line of the buck.

32. An ironing press comprising a buck, means for tiltably supporting said buck, a carriage pivoted below and to the rear of the center line of the buck, a shoe carried by said carriage and movable to a position above and in register with said buck, means for effecting pressing engagement of said buck and said shoe by relative movement of said buck and said shoe along an axis inclined downward and rearward of the center line of the buck, and means restraining rearward tilting of said buck for preventing rearward movement of said carriage during pressing.

33. In an ironing press comprising a pair of co-operating pressing members, means for mounting one of said members for movement transversely to the other pressing members into and out of register therewith, a handle connected to said movable pressing member, power operated means for the press, means actuated by movement of said movable pressing member into register with the other pressing member for controlling said power means to eiect pressing engagement of the pressing members, and means responsive to pressure on said handle in the direction to move the movable pressing member to the out-of-register position for controlling said power means to release the pressure between the pressing members.

34. In an ironing press comprising a pair of co-operating pressing members, a handle for effecting relative movement of the pressing members into and out of register with each other, electrically operated means adapted when energized to eii'ect pressing engagement of said members and when deenergized to release the pressure between said members, a switch controlled by said handle for controlling said electrically operated means, means for moving said switch to the energized position in response to the force on the handle required to eiect the movement of the pressing members to the in-register position, and means for moving said switch to the deenergized position in response to pressure on the handle in the direction to eect movement of said members out of register.

35. In an ironing press comprising a pair of co-operating pressing members, a handle for effecting relative movement of said members into and out of register, power operated means for eiecting pressing engagement of said members, means actuated by movement of said members into register for controlling said power operated means to effect pressing engagement oi said members, and means controlled by pressure on said handle in the direction to move said members out of register for controlling said power operated means to release the pressure between said members.

36. An ironing press comprising a pair of cooperating members, means for moving said pressing members into pressing engagement, a pui iron carried by said press movable to an operative and an inoperative position, means dependent upon said pui iron being moved from the inoperative position for preventing pressing engagement of said pressing members.

3'7. An ironing press comprising a pressing member, a shoe, power-operated means for moving said pressing member and said shoe into pressing engagement, a pun iron carried by said shoe having a working surface movable to a position projecting beyond said shoe, and means dependent upon the working surface ofsaid puff v iron being moved beyond said shoe for controlling said power-operated means to prevent pressing engagement of said pressing member and said shoe.

GEORGE W. WARDWEIL, Jn. 

